AS HE did frequently throughout Leicester’s title charge last season Claudio Ranieri has laughed off his side’s chances of Champions League glory as an impossible dream.

They tackle FC Bruges in Belgium in their opening group game tonight, with the Leicester boss urging the dreamers to “calm down”. But he said: “Let’s hope this is the second story of the fantastic fairytale we wrote last season. It’s good when the players believe in something and the supporters too – but hey, calm down.

“Right now I think it’s impossible for us to win it because there are so many big teams in it. To win the Champions League we would have to write another massive fairy-tale. When I say that it’s impossible I say that knowing that we showed the impossible actually was possible last season!”

Ranieri added that, as far he was concerned, Leicester were right down with the very lowest ranked sides in the competition – despite being drawn out of Pot One by virtue of being English champions.

Champions League groups ranked by toughness

Thu, August 25, 2016

Click through the gallery to see every Champions League group ranked by how tough they look

Click through the gallery to see every Champions League group ranked by how tough they look

“Listen, I want us to be playing on beyond December and in the knockout stages – that’s important for us,” he said. “And if you believe in fairy-tales then good things can happen. If you don’t believe, then it can’t.”

Leicester have stumbled out of the blocks in defence of their Premier League title, losing twice already, having only lost three throughout the whole of last season.

“Maybe the critics will criticise us all the season,” he said. “Because if the people think about last season then they think wrong. It is a new season, totally different. There are teams who haven’t won the title for 30 years. We won the title. Now we restart, don’t think what happened last season. Restart to be safe.”

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Claudio Ranieri proved the impossible was possible last season

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Leicester trained at the Jan Breydel Stadium yesterday and Ranieri, who last managed in the competition when Inter Milan lost to Marseille in the last 16 four years ago, said: “Last season everyone gave 120 per cent and everything was perfect. Maybe this season we have to pay for something. I am happy to pay now because we broke a lot of things last season.

“If other teams think we are one of the weak links then that might not be wise.”

Brugge are 10th in the Jupiler Pro League league after three defeats from six games but Ranieri insisted the hosts must be respected.

“Club Brugge are a good team – one of the best in Belgium – and are used to playing in Europe. We are the last, Leicester and Rostov are the last. Of course we want to show our best and our desire is to win but we have to stay calm with a lot of respect for everyone.”

Skipper Wes Morgan revealed he thought his Champion League experiences were destined to be watching it on TV with his mates. “We used to watch it and it was special so it feels even more special now to actually be playing in it,” he said.

“Can we win it? Why not? No one thought we could win the Premier League so we have already shown what can be done.